The visionary tribal-ambient trio of Byron Metcalf, Steve Roach and Rob Thomas opens a portal into an expanded state of being. MONUMENTS OF ECSTASY contains six impeccably crafted pieces of modern-tribal magic; the visceral power of sound and rhythm work to activate a body-centered passion and life-force arousal. Byron's drums and percussion fuse with Steve's hybrid grooves, array of analog modular, virtual analog synths and mixing enhancements; Rob's serpentine didgeridoo weaves aboriginal textures and otherworldly voices, adding ancient layers to the trio's flows and soundscapes. The result are majestic and powerful formations that rise up from the earth in an ever-evolving organic listening experience.

Driven by a constant current of fluid percussive pulses, the music induces a sense of hyper-perception on all levels -- from cellular to celebration. This is akin to the expanded level of awareness achieved throughout time by seekers worldwide. The entire body becomes a receptor-center for these primal forms of rhythmic momentum and emotive textures. A myriad of interwoven patterns, accentuated by state of the art recording, mixing and mastering, combine to transport the listener into a numinous dimension of energy, expansion and bliss -- the very definition of ecstasy.

Activating an euphoric state of body-mind-spirit awareness, the tracks develop and emerge as they reveal their intensity and power. Just like the massive, magnificent monuments that grace the album cover, these pieces inspire a breathtaking state of awe. With an underlying power and strength, the expansiveness of these MONUMENTS OF ECSTASY await...

You are invited to join Steve and Byron for three days of complete sonic immersion in activating and cultivating a deeper connection to transformative sound states, ranging from the expansive ecstatic to the inner quiet. This workshop will include sessions on deeper listening, extended journey concerts, spontaneous interactive group sound creation, elemental sound meditations and more. Core elements from Byron's "Shaman's Heart Program" will be weaved throughout to help integrate your experiences in a personal way.Continued...

Award-winning shamanic-trance drummer Byron Metcalf and master didgeridoo artist Rob Thomas of Inlakesh combine their musical and personal medicines to create an extremely potent sonic brew. MEDICINE WORK is a psychoactive offering -- synergistically forged in the timeless hearth of shamanic intent and ceremony and is designed to guide and support intrepid travelers into deeper territories of their inner worlds -- far beyond the known and familiar.Continued...

After two years pushing the creative edges, TALES FROM THE ULTRA TRIBE emerges as a fire-breathing life form. The deep trance-shamanic-atmospheric collaboration between Steve Roach and Byron Metcalf evokes the primordial caverns and aeon-blasted landscapes of their groundbreaking THE SERPENT'S LAIR.Continued...

Please note: All tickets are "will call"; no tickets will be mailed. Just show your invoice or photo ID at the door. All tickets sales are final and processed upon receipt. No refunds. Tickets also available at the door, space permitting. Please check the Feature page (link at left) for updates, schedule, directions, lodging info and more.

The essential ingredients of ancient and contemporary shamanic trance states are fully activated in this highly potent new release. Byron carved out a collection of incredible trance grooves for nearly a year, eventually bringing in the prana-infused didgeridoo of Dashmesh Khalsa on every track. Steve joined on in early January 2010 and poured his heart and soul-drenched soundworlds into the six pieces, covering a full range of ecstatic dreamtime flow: rhythm, breath and expansion. The end result is a full-blown dreamtime alchemy of all the elements. The living, breathing percussion, didgeridoo and soundworlds are unified in a single purpose: to open to the door out of the ordinary world, initiating the listener into an empowered journey of infinite possibilities for spiritual rebirth, illumination, and transcendence.

THE SHAMAN'S HEART II is an entrancing 70-minute shamanic journey of uninterrupted, evolving tribal-trance drumming and percussion that continuously builds in rhythmic complexity and dynamic intensity. Byron is joined by Steve Roach who provides the harmonic and textural psychotropic stew created from a rich, organic and analog blend. The alchemy with the percussion results in an ecstasy that helps hold the space for the listener to journey far and deep into powerful and sustained shamanic states of consciousness. The journey culminates in a bursting forth through the full spectrum portal of pure existence -- returning safely home to the heart-centered presence and potential of the true self. Continued...

NADA TERMA merges the boundaries of ambient, world music and sacred-meditative styles. On NADA TERMA (translated as "discovering spiritual treasures through the world of sound") East Indian tonalities blend with Sufi-like trance percussion immersed in atmospheres, drifts and drones, arriving at a state of relaxed, focused awareness. The continuously-woven 73-minute piece is sequenced into seven discrete segments, perfect for any listener looking for extended states of awareness, creative enhancement, yoga, bodywork, and deep listening.

Following upon the groundbreaking work of 2006's MANTRAM, NADA TERMA is the second Projekt collaboration between Arizona's Steve Roach and Byron Metcalf with Germany's Mark Seelig. On NADA TERMA they reach deeper into the mystical / spiritual realm, presenting a blend of diverse worlds skillfully combined in an organic fashion. Deep-trance frame drums, clay pots and percussion meet with harmonic overtone vocals (akin to Tuvan throat singers) and the yearning sounds of the stringed Indian Dilruba, and East Indian bansuri flute, bringing a melodic and spiritual-contemplative highlight to the release. All of this exists within an enigmatic world of shadow and shifting light developed by way of artful enhancements and processing of the acoustic instruments. These complements are part of a constant, slowly breathing subtext of drones and atmospheres in which the entire experience lives.

In this latest solo project, Byron expands his sonic explorations of the shamanic path of soul-based and heart-centered living that is the foundation of his work. This work is centered around organic trance rhythms and interlocking hybrid grooves which drive the experience forward and deeper into the shamanic realms. A WARNING FROM THE ELDERS is the first project where Byron has used his overtone singing to create harmonic drones and soundscapes. With this potent emphasis on the raw, organic sounds of wood, skin, metal, clay, stone, and the human voice, Byron makes a big step forward in his production skills and the result is a delicious blend of fierce percussion, heart-opening textural voices and overtone singing; a powerful meditation of purpose, presence and compassion.

This is a powerful and unique rhythmic and soundworld trance experience based on the traditional structures of shamanic drumming used for altering states of awareness. The entire journey is built using a collection of buffalo drums, frame drums and rattles. Presented as a continuous, unfolding rhythmic state, starting with lone peyote rattles and evolving into mandala-like polyrhythmic bliss. Through it all is a shapeshifting undercurrent of essential soundworlds specifically provided to create support for the intrepid inner traveler. This is unlike any of the solo or collaborations from Byron and Steve.Continued...

Like the living, breathing, meditative movement of the Sufi trance dance, MANTRAM is grounded in a reverence for the slowing of time which allows the natural reflective process to emerge. Slow heartbeat-like acoustic frame drum, overtone voice, Didgeridoo, Bansuri flute, and Tamboura drones mix with a majestic tapestry of organic electronic textures, offering the sonic equivalent of the power found when gazing into timeless Mandala images found in classic sacred art. The entire CD holds a consistent interconnected feeling that seems to spiral outwards when experienced in repeat playback.

This project was built around Byron's evolving style of acoustic and processed percussion pieces pulsing in the spirit of THE SERPENT'S LAIR with Steve Roach. The spiritually rich overtone voice and flute of Mark Seelig creates a unique stirring blend that is organinc at the core. Although Steve was consumed with the creation of MYSTIC CHORDS & SACRED SPACES, he joined in on the project later on, adding soundworlds and processing throughout. This release sets the stage for a second project in production now, a full collaboration between Byron, Mark and Steve that was mapped out during a recent week this summer at the Timeroom.Continued...

Byron Metcalf's new solo CD, featuring Steve Roach on several tracks, is available for a limited time. Cut from a similar fabric as disc one of THE SERPENT'S LAIR. This intense tribal percussion-heavy journey is not for the faint at heart, and while the word "shamanic music" gets used freely now, this is to be considered the real deal. It's a more stripped down sound from THE SERPENT'S LAIR, with various drums and percussion, didgeridoo and soundscapes combined for a powerful result.

Beginning as a collaboration between Steve Roach and Byron Metcalf, the music on THE SERPENT'S LAIR evolved over the past year into an epic 2-CD set, augmented with a myriad of guests. This release has it all: Steve's ultra-soundworlds, hybrid grooves and magical production, combined with Byron's acoustic-organic tribal trance patterns. Aligning with themes of shamanic initiation found throughout the world, the music is rooted in the organic... the earth... the ancestors... It is here that one is confronted with all the essential elements of danger and possibility.